Chemical and bromatological characteristics of elephant grass silages with the addition of dried cashew stalk

Margareth Maria Teles Rêgo,Maria Socorro De Souza Carneiro,Raimundo Nonato Braga Lôbo,Magno José Duarte Cândido,Aníbal Coutinho Do Rêgo,José Neuman Miranda Neiva

doi:10.1590/s1516-35982010000200004

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) silages with the addition of 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16% dried cashew stalk (Anacardium occidentale L.) - DCS, based on the fresh matter. A randomized complete design with four replications was used. Twenty 210 L plastic drums were used as experimental silos. The levels were determined of the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose, ether extract (EE), total carbohydrates (TC), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN,% total N), acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN, % total N), pH values, ammonia nitrogen (in percentage of the total nitrogen, N-NH3, % total N), lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid and propionic acid. Adding DCS resulted in higher values of DM, CP, EE, NFC, NDIN (% total N), ADIN (% total N), pH, lactic acid and propionic acid. On the other hand, with increasing DCS levels, a linear decline was observed in values of NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, ammonia nitrogen (% total N) and butyric acid. DCS did not show effect on the TC and acetic acid in the silages. As a result, up to 16% dehydrated cashew stalk may be added to elephant-grass silages, based on the fresh matter, to increase CP and NFC levels and decrease NDF and ADF and improve the fermentation patterns. It should be taken into account that higher NDIN and ADIN values may interfere in nitrogen availability and therefore in further DM intake.

Highlights

The use of silage can be an alternative to raise food stuff offer, especially in the dry period, and reduce the Cynodon genus, its use is still important in some regions
The levels were determined of the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose, ether extract (EE), total carbohydrates (TC), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN,% total N), acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN, % total N), pH values, ammonia nitrogen, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid and propionic acid
The addition of dried cashew stalk raised (P

Summary

Introduction

The use of silage can be an alternative to raise food stuff offer, especially in the dry period, and reduce the Cynodon genus, its use is still important in some regions. To fully exploit elephant grass in the period of food shortage, some conservation practices need to be used, normally ensilage, to ensure the preservation of the forage quality. There is some difficulty when ensilaging elephant grass in reaching the point of equilibrium between productivity and forage quality because when the plants reach between 1.60 and 1.80 m in height, the moisture contents are high, normally around 80% (Vilela et al, 2002). The addition of absorbent products has been studied as a suggestion to raise the dry matter content of the silage mass of tropical grasses (Evangelista et al, 2000; Neiva et al, 2006; Cysne et al, 2006; Pompeu et al, 2006; Coan et al, 2007; Sá et al, 2007; Candido et al, 2007; Ferreira et al, 2007; Tavares et al, 2009; Ribeiro et al, 2009). The absorbent materials assessed include the by-products of fruit processing or harvesting, materials that are normally lost in the processing industries

Objectives

Methods

Results